Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend Marian Ruth Sinclair Liebenow, 82, passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at her home in Owensboro.
Marian was born in Owensboro, the oldest of three children born to the late Chester Sinclair and Opal Likens Sinclair. She grew up with her two brothers in Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and she loved riding horses and playing the piano. Marian met her husband, John Liebenow, through their church in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, and they married in 1964. They were married for 55 years and raised three children.
As she raised her children, Marian pursued her longtime dream of becoming a registered nurse, and graduated at the age of 41. She went on to use her gifts of wisdom and mercy for the next 24 years through her work as an oncology nurse, working first in the Chicago suburbs then completing her career at Owensboro Mercy Health System. Marian was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Owensboro, loved dogs, especially her dog, Bella, and enjoyed cooking for and extending hospitality to family and friends.
Marian was preceded in death by her husband, John Liebenow, parents, Chester Sinclair and Opal Virnig, and her stepfather, Morris Virnig. Surviving to miss her are her children, Gretchen Buchmeyer (Andrew) of Houston, Texas, Patricia Gebner (Keith) of Wheaton, Illinois, and Peter Liebenow of Owensboro; six grandchildren, Abby Buchmeyer, Jackson Buchmeyer, Aaron Gebner, Jenna Gebner, Benjamin Gebner, and Camryn Liebenow; her brothers, Paul Sinclair (Lisa) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Steven Sinclair (Nancy) of Seminole, Florida, along with many nieces and nephews.
Services will take place at Christ Presbyterian Church in Owensboro on Saturday, August 2. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. with a memorial service at 3 p.m. A private interment will be on Monday, August 4, at Elmwood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital for Children, www.stjude.org, or to National Public Radio, www.npr.org. Messages and condolences to the family can be shared at www.glenncares.com.